I normally don't seek out socks with colored toes and heels, but I find that they make it easy to match and pair when the socks are solid navy. I liked these so much for that reason I bought a second pair.

Are these sea island cotton? Or wool? If wool, where did you get them? They are swell.

Being that they are Marcoliani's, they are either pima cotton and nylon (~75/25) or merino/nylon (80/20). I don't recognize that pattern right offhand but the Marco's I own that are similar are mostly the cotton blends.